Two Topeka policemen killed in shooting near grocery store

Topeka Police were surrounding a house on Sunday night after tracking a suspect in the shooting of two fellow officers earlier in the evening.

KSHB

Topeka police officers David Gogian (L) and Jeff Atherly (R)

Topeka Police Department

Copyright: CNN

TOPEKA, Kan. - Two Topeka Police Officers were killed in the line of duty on Sunday.

Topeka Police confirmed that the officers were killed after a shooting near a grocery store. Cpl David Gogian, 50, and officer Jeff Atherly, 29, were both killed after suffering life-threatening gunshot wounds in the shooting.

Authorities said police were called to a Dillon's grocery store at 1400 SW Huntoon St. at around 6 p.m. on a report of a suspicious vehicle. After they arrived, they reported shots had been fired.

A third officer who fired back at the shooter was not injured, said Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller.

The chief declined to say why officers were investigating the vehicle and why it was considered suspicious.

Investigators quickly named the suspect as 22-year-old David E. Tiscareno, of Topeka. He was taken into custody Monday morning after an hours-long standoff in which shots were fired. Emergency crews transported him to an area hospital, where he was
pronounced dead.

The Sunday night shooting brings the number of police officers killed in the line of duty this year to 120, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.